Monthly Missionary Update 

Brett & Monica Garner
Indiana

DEATH IS DEAD

One of our good friends, Joan, died this past week. Our hearts were so sad and heavy. And our hearts ache for the family. It is so sad to say good bye.

But we have hope.

“I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.  Do you believe this?”  — John 11:25 & 26  ESV 

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” — Revelation 21:4 ESV

The body goes into the grave but the soul lives forever. Death died when Christ rose from the grave!!!  This is the hope of Easter. This is the hope that our friends have because Joan was a believer and she loved her Lord.

I saw her a couple of weeks before she died. We were at the nursing home and she was there for rehab. She also had her Bible with her. She told me that she knows a lady that was there and she was concerned about her salvation. So she brought her Bible to share the Gospel with this lady.

I am sure that when Joan stood before God He told her well done, good and faithful servant.

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.  Enter into the joy of your master.'” — Matthew 25:23 ESV 

This reminds me that whenever a person turns from their sin and believes that Jesus died for them and that he conquered death, they go from death to life in an instant. For them, death is now dead.

As we enter the Easter season, we will be in Texas sharing this hope with many people.

One young lady in our home area now has this hope too…….

Brett, a man named Doug, and his teenage son, met Julie in a coffee shop in Elkhart, Indiana. Julie was there because the coffee shop she wanted to go to was closed. She had just returned from a mission trip and was preparing her photos for a presentation to her church. Brett told her that they were going out into the community to love on people by talking, praying and sharing the Gospel. He invited her to join them to go out on the streets. But she said she had a prior engagement to go to a class that she had already paid for. As she was leaving, she got in her car and prayed. She asked the Lord if she should go with Brett’s group. She really felt like God wanted her to go out on the streets to share the Gospel instead of going to her class.

As Brett, Doug, and his son were walking down the street Julie came around the corner to join them. Just before they ran into Julie, Brett had asked his group, “How do you approach a woman if you don’t have a woman in your group?” And then there was Julie!  This is what happened next…….

They crossed the street and ran into an older woman, two younger women and 3 babies. As they were talking with them they were open to prayer which led into giving them wrist bands and sharing the Gospel verses with them. While sharing, it started to rain. Brett’s first thought was, “Oh no. The rain will be a distraction.”

The older woman took the 3 babies and got in the van. The other two stayed. (They were sisters.) They went under a canopy ,and when they finished sharing the Gospel with them, the one sister said she was not ready to make a decision for Christ. The other sister, Candice, said she was ready. Julie along with Brett, Doug and his son had the privilege to lead this young woman Candice to the Lord.

Candice wanted someone to disciple her, to model how to follow Christ, and help her along on her journey as a new believer. Julie is going to disciple Candice.

To the right of Brett is Julie, and behind him is Doug’s son.  In front are the two sisters. The one on the right is Candace who asked Jesus to be her Savior!

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicng in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  — Luke 15:10

It always amazes me how when we listen and obey, God has blessings in store for all who are involved. There was Candice, who’s life is now changed and she has someone to pour into her. And Julie, who by listening to God, chose to be a part of  this particular group. This led to sharing the Gospel with Candice and she is the one pouring into this new life in Christ.

We all, as the body of Christ (believers), have a lot to offer.  God will use us in so many ways. It doesn’t matter how old we are or how young. Sometimes it is a small part and sometimes it is a big part. But, no part is ever any more important than another.

By the way Joan was 81 when God called her home.

The YELLOW region is where Brett and I will be serving during the 50 day outreach.

Ministry Update

Here we go!  We are in the process of packing!  We have never had to pack for two months before.  We will be leaving  on Wednesday, and will return on June 6.

There is a lot happening in Texas already. They have already met with one of the Men’s soccer teams. Schools, athletic teams, businesses etc. are opening up for us to come in and share the Gospel.  We are excited to see what all the Lord has planned for the 50 days of reviveTX. We are praying it will truely  “Shake The Nation”

Please come and join us for a couple of days, a week, or the whole 50 days. You can contact us if you are interested. We can connect you with someone that can help you with housing too.

Our Family
Brett, Evan, Lee,
Monica,Paxton, Jaimene,
Briggs & Gage

Prayer Requests

  • Protect our health from now through the 50 days.
  • That the Lord gives us love, compassion and boldness in all of the moments that we will be needing it.
  • For our yellow team, that we have unity and love for one another.
  • That we serve with excellence in whatever the Lord calls us to do while we are in Texas.
  • That God gives us the stamina and rest that we will need.
  • For so many salvations that the entire nation will sit up and take notice of what is going on!
  • For safe travels and protection over our marriage.  This is something we have never experienced before (a 50 day outreach)  The pace will be hard. I guess just extra love for one another during this time.
  • Please continue to pray for our parents,  Bill and Shirley & JD and Judy.

Praise Report

  • God has answered so many prayers that we have had.  Brett’s mom Judy is doing better.  She had some more health issues and possibly surgery coming up again..  But she does not have to have the surgery. 
  • Bill, my step Dad was moved to the nursing home right across from where they live.  This is a blessing for my Mom. 
  • Everything with my parents (all of the lawyer stuff and paper work ) is pretty much wrapped up.
  • We have someone to stay at our house to take care of things while we are gone. 
  • All of our family is so supportive, and we are so thankful for that.